[Op/Ed] The Great UK Game Journo Meltdown of 2012

[Ghostbear]

Here's the thing, while it's easy to point at that and feel bad, it's probably unlikely that he's going to change a review based on some mountain dew.

[Ravenlock]

Originally Posted by Ghostbear

Here's the thing, while it's easy to point at that and feel bad, it's probably unlikely that he's going to change a review based on some mountain dew.

From a practical point of view I agree, but that really isn't the point. I mean, it's a question of how the man makes his money. And now he appears to be making his money from the people who make their money making sure Call of Duty sells more promotional crap (and more copies) this year than it did last year.

[Ghostbear]

Yeah, I'm not saying his opinions are worth listening to, just that they're probably not heavily influenced.

[Savok]

Well for Geoff I can only imagine his reviews (if he even does these days) are actually coded messages for help. However it does go to highlight the massive, massive conflicts of interest that plague the industry.

I never linked to what Rev Stu's been up to have I? Well here it is.

Also for those who think this is crap spouted by angry people on the Internets, lets go back to 1995. I remember the Aussie mag, Nintendo Magazine System, giving Superman 64 80%. This isn't a new concept.

[muddi900]

Savok's link led me to this:

In other words, then, the same readers who regularly howl "Corruption!" are the ones who are bringing it about, because by placing no value on proper gaming journalism they remove any reason for it to exist. Readers who used to buy £5 magazines 13 times a year now refuse to pay a penny for the same thing on the internet, leaving sites with no revenue stream other than advertisers. (WoSland, which carries no advertising, is no different in that regard, with fewer than 5% of regular readers making any financial contribution towards the site's existence.)

http://wosland.podgamer.com/how-911-...es-journalism/


We are only getting what we pay for.

[Savok]

True enough. A lot of magazines were corrupt and useless back in the day but there wasn't this all pervading sense of emptiness you get now.

[Narradisall]

That is true, but it's possible to take advertising revenue and still impartially review said item (I just imagine it wouldn't be popular and would likely not see repeat custom).

That being said, it's also possible to write reviews, be a popular site enough so that you can choose whom you advertise for and ensure it doesn't effect the content.

It's just not easy.

[Savok]

Originally Posted by Savok

On a side note Rev Stu is also looking into her, so she's pretty much fucked in terms of credibility.

That was quick. Literally in bed with PR (not quite what you think), doesn't get much better. Also in that article, Stu attempting to piece together what happened and some unrelated history showcasing the culture of corruption.

Meanwhile, Eurogamer finally admits they were threatened. Beyond that it's just lip service amounting to "please put down the torches and pitchforks".

[Ravenlock]

Didn't Wainwright publicly claim that there was no threat? I feel like she did, but she also did the whole "I'mma delete the history of my life on the internet now" thing so now I'm not sure. Maybe it was just Intent clarifying that no action had been taken.

[J Arcane]

Originally Posted by Narradisall

That is true, but it's possible to take advertising revenue and still impartially review said item (I just imagine it wouldn't be popular and would likely not see repeat custom).

Other media do it all the time, it's just that they're better established and don't have a history of surrendering to the bullying.

Originally Posted by Ravenlock

Didn't Wainwright publicly claim that there was no threat? I feel like she did, but she also did the whole "I'mma delete the history of my life on the internet now" thing so now I'm not sure. Maybe it was just Intent clarifying that no action had been taken.

She did, which prompted Rab to defend himself. The tweets may've been pulled, but she did indeed deny the threats.

[Goronmon]

It's good to see Eurogamer has an official response in all of this. It's just sad how much crap has been flying around after what was overall a fairly tame article.

[Psykoboy2]

Originally Posted by Goronmon

It's just sad how much crap has been flying around after what was overall a fairly tame article.

And might not have been the shit storm it has turned out to be had she not tried to defend her journalistic integrity. In doing so, she completely tarnished and ruined it.

[Ravenlock]

Originally Posted by J Arcane

She did, which prompted Rab to defend himself. The tweets may've been pulled, but she did indeed deny the threats.

Well, that's pretty reprehensible, then.

I wanted to grant that she just might be in over her head and overreacting because she didn't know how to handle it, but making legal threats that effectively cost somebody their job and then lying about having made those threats is pretty far beyond the fucking pale.

[Savok]

In semi-related news, the new site Polygon with its fancy ethics statement attempting to make themselves look less up the arse of the publishers, have already begun just reguritating press releases, complete with closing down comments because people were pointing the fact out.

Though in fairness to them supposed "real" journalists do exactly the same thing and call it news.

[Doogie2K]

So apparently Totilo thinks this is a bunch of drama that's not worth getting into?

Man, I'm with Kuchera. This is a basic freedom-of-press issue, and not limited to gaming in the slightest. Not that I use Kotaku anymore anyway, but fuck him and fuck them.

[Ravenlock]

Originally Posted by Savok

In semi-related news, the new site Polygon with its fancy ethics statement attempting to make themselves look less up the arse of the publishers, have already begun just reguritating press releases, complete with closing down comments because people were pointing the fact out.

Well, on the one hand there are still plenty of comments in that thread lambasting them that haven't been removed. The vast majority, in fact.

On the other hand, they have closed the thread, and I don't know which comments were removed, so I don't know if there was a substantial difference in them. It is disheartening, for sure, to see that dust up happening today, though. I [want to] like Polygon.

I have to imagine it's what they're talking about at the office, though. I mean, they set out to cultivate exactly the audience that will call them on this.

[J Arcane]

I'm not surprised Kotaku refused to publish the story. What they know about journalistic integrity could fit up a fly's asshole with room to spare.

[MagGnome]

Originally Posted by Savok

In semi-related news, the new site Polygon with its fancy ethics statement attempting to make themselves look less up the arse of the publishers, have already begun just reguritating press releases, complete with closing down comments because people were pointing the fact out.

Though in fairness to them supposed "real" journalists do exactly the same thing and call it news.

Wow, well that went the expected direction rather quickly. Bummer.

Originally Posted by Doogie2K

So apparently Totilo thinks this is a bunch of drama that's not worth getting into?

Man, I'm with Kuchera. This is a basic freedom-of-press issue, and not limited to gaming in the slightest. Not that I use Kotaku anymore anyway, but fuck him and fuck them.

The image floating around of Totilo's comment followed by that screen cap from Kotaku featuring some sort of Halo contest is priceless. I wish I could dig it up, but I'm at school and don't recall where I saw it.

[Ghostbear]

Originally Posted by Savok

In semi-related news, the new site Polygon with its fancy ethics statement attempting to make themselves look less up the arse of the publishers, have already begun just reguritating press releases, complete with closing down comments because people were pointing the fact out.

Though in fairness to them supposed "real" journalists do exactly the same thing and call it news.

Oh that is glorious.

[Savok]

Originally Posted by Ravenlock

Well, on the one hand there are still plenty of comments in that thread lambasting them that haven't been removed. The vast majority, in fact.

On the other hand, they have closed the thread, and I don't know which comments were removed, so I don't know if there was a substantial difference in them. It is disheartening, for sure, to see that dust up happening today, though. I [want to] like Polygon.

I have to imagine it's what they're talking about at the office, though. I mean, they set out to cultivate exactly the audience that will call them on this.

Well, it was all of them. When I linked it, all those comments had been deleted. Oh, sorry, "hidden", now unhidden.

Christopher Grant

Several of you have emailed us to say you didn't feel like this article lives up to our high standards, and we agree. It's being removed from the front page and we've unhidden all comments, but will keep commenting disabled for now. Thank you so much for the feedback.

The original post being just above it. Though I'm fairly certain that last line is new (not some form of understatement, really can't quite remember).

Christopher Grant

Please read our Community Guidelines here – we reserve every right to delete comments that aren't helpful or on-topic. If you want to criticize us, you're welcome to send us an email to feedback@polygon.com. If you want to make a new account – which all the detractors here have done – and come here to rile up negativity, we're going to stop you.

We're closing this thread for now and will reconsider opening it later.

The language shift is most interesting of all. The peasants are revolting.

Dare I hope this is the start of actual change? Or are they all just keeping their heads down until this blows over? I suspect the latter but as always, hope I'm wrong.